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How much for a transmission?

sid700

sid700

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I know there are some auto enthusiasts here so here goes...

I need some transmission work and I have no idea of the cost to replace. Anyone have an idea of the range of $ to replace a manual transmission for a 1999 Ford F150, 6 cyl? I bought this truck new and now has 107k miles and the transmission slips at times.

I really would not know if an estimate is reasonable or if I'm being taken to the cleaners. I'm in the East Bast if some one can recommend a good transmission specialist.
 
I would get an estimate from the dealers first then go and check with other places to compare prices. all i know is transmission replacement will cost you a pretty penny.
 
melly mel said:
I would get an estimate from the dealers first then go and check with other places to compare prices. all i know is transmission replacement will cost you a pretty penny.
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I would not advise you to go to a dealership. First they will charge you a fee just to look at your car which is probably going to be at least $150. Then they'll give you an estimate that will be 2x worth a transmission shop for the same transmission. I'd go on Yelp and find a transmission shop around you with good reviews and start making phone calls. FWIW my automatic transmission for my 2002 suburban cost $2300 (dealership estimated $4300). Manual transmissions would probably cost less.
 
Assuming no funky noises, just slipping. Sounds a lot like a simple worn out clutch.
My wild guess would be $750. Non dealer. Big ford truck. No fancy expensive imported parts.

Look around in the east bay suburbs for a few ford truck transmission specialists.
Then cross reference on yelp + BBB.
I think dealers are a bit better than they used to be, but are still pretty much guaranteed to
be the most expensive.

-- EDIT ---
Not sure, but could be a hydraulic clutch. Adds another $500 or so.
 
sfboarders said:
melly mel said:
I would get an estimate from the dealers first then go and check with other places to compare prices. all i know is transmission replacement will cost you a pretty penny.
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I would not advise you to go to a dealership. First they will charge you a fee just to look at your car which is probably going to be at least $150. Then they'll give you an estimate that will be 2x worth a transmission shop for the same transmission. I'd go on Yelp and find a transmission shop around you with good reviews and start making phone calls. FWIW my automatic transmission for my 2002 suburban cost $2300 (dealership estimated $4300). Manual transmissions would probably cost less.
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I wasnt clear, I agree with John too, DO NOT go to the dealer but rather call and just check what the price range is. thats what i usually do before taking it to a different shop for other maintenance issues. and Yes, YELP is your friend!
 
I would also suggest reading up on transmissions, be it Googled, Binged or from a Haynes manual. Just so you have an idea of what might be going on, it's better to be able to understand what the mechanics are going to point out to you, so you don't get taken to the cleaners. Even if you said "Yeah, I hear in these F150, the Flux Capacitors tend to wear out early, could that be it?" then they might think "Hmm, he knows about the Flux Capacitor, I better not give him the Headlight Fluid scam", or if he tells you "The Barnicle Valve is faulty" you can say "I thought F150s used an Oyster Hinge, rather than a Barnacle Valve?" that might get the truth out of them if they are scamming.


V
 
Vincerama2 said:
NOTE: When you talk to them, don't actually say "Flux Capacitor", "Barnacle Valve" or "Oyster Hinge" they only use those in Hybrids.

V
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But be aware... muffler bearings go out quite often and they can cause a hole slew of problems :) Repair is rather costly :lol:
 
Thanks guys. I totally did not think of yelp. I'll try one that's near my work.

Also, I'm not naive enough to mention the flux capacitor. Everyone knows you only use that reset a reef tank's parameters after adding something that you shouldn't.
 
It sounds like it could be more of a clutch issue.
Sorry and I will dissagree with the others above. I trust dealerships and not independant all that much.
They me start out by being forward and say that I am a mechanic and I work for a dealership, now that asside the reasons that I trust dealership work more is not because I work at one, but more because I see what happens when idependant shops get ahold of something and have no idea what they are doing. There are some good idependant shops out there but they seem to be few and far between. The reason that you pay more at a dealership is because you are getting factory parts and a higher skilled and trained technician working on your vehicle. We go to school mutiple times a year to learn and be trained by the factory in order to attain this.
All this aside do what you feel is best for you. Make multiple phone calls and talk to more people, just make sure who you talk to knows what they are talking about and not just trying to convince you that you need to go there to get your vehicle fixed.
 
sid700 said:
Also, I'm not naive enough to mention the flux capacitor. Everyone knows you only use that reset a reef tank's parameters after adding something that you shouldn't like chemiclean.
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:-D
 
Yes, A Dealer is more , but you also get a REAL warranty. And that shop you'd pay $2300 for a new RE man. Trans and it goes bad will bring it to the Dealer. We are held to higher standards on proof of failure then the corner shop. And are the only ones who can warranty a remans Tran.(GM) There is a difference between the Service Advisers and the Mechanic at most Dealership. We dint like "salesman" in our trade any more then the customer does.
And being out the for the last 3 months with an injury suffered removing a Transmission. I'm glad that I work for a place with decent Health and welfare coverage . Just my 1 cent. On workers Comp can' t aford the other 1 cent !:)
Like everyone said just do research. I always recommend a Factory ReMan to my friends. Warrantied at any factory shop, Because sometimes they go out, in lets say Tahoe. Is Larry's Trans going to help you? You can probably rebuild it too but then you only get that shops warranty. And make sure they flush the transmission cooler if you have one. Seen too many "Outside" installed Reman come in because they weren't required to prove they flushed out system . At GM we won't get paid (by the factory )unless we provide a code from a flow machine. All that burnt stuff get trapped in the small ports of the cooler. Overheats the new one . Factory Reman can be installed outside(cheaper)and warrantied at the Authorized shop.If ever needed. Good Luck
sfboarders(John) let me know if you ever need any GM parts or anything .No mark up! :)
 
Tumbleweed said:
It sounds like it could be more of a clutch issue.
Sorry and I will dissagree with the others above. I trust dealerships and not independant all that much.
They me start out by being forward and say that I am a mechanic and I work for a dealership, now that asside the reasons that I trust dealership work more is not because I work at one, but more because I see what happens when idependant shops get ahold of something and have no idea what they are doing. There are some good idependant shops out there but they seem to be few and far between. The reason that you pay more at a dealership is because you are getting factory parts and a higher skilled and trained technician working on your vehicle. We go to school mutiple times a year to learn and be trained by the factory in order to attain this.
All this aside do what you feel is best for you. Make multiple phone calls and talk to more people, just make sure who you talk to knows what they are talking about and not just trying to convince you that you need to go there to get your vehicle fixed.
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My local dealership didn't put the spark plug back in all the way (and there was no reason to remove it in the first place, I was getting a freaking oil change). a day later at 3am my spark plug shot out of my engine and put a nice hole in my hood leaving me stranded on Highway 17. Super awesome.

A few years prior, same dealership, got called my breaks where done. Got there to pick it up, paid, started to drive away and hit the breaks. No work done on them yet.

A few years prior to that, my dad brought his truck in for a new side mirror and to replace something else. Got called both were done, got there, no mirror on the side of his truck.

3 strikes and dealerships are out for me (or rather, this one... not tossing the baby out with the water). My local Independent is far better then they are. I also have known him all my life, well, 36 of 38 years :) FWIW he goes to school multiple times a year as well.
 
Almost sounds like a "well known Company" that custom made a sump for me and fused the paper in all the seams and still shipped it to me on my dime. Sticker crooked and all. What I get" We're sorry Sir can YOU bring it to use we'll see what we can do. Wouldn't use them or recomend them again."They only made it a rush fix because I mentioned posting pictures on RC . So the moral is everyone makes mistakes its how you fix them. :)
 
bmhair03 said:
sfboarders(John) let me know if you ever need any GM parts or anything .No mark up! :)
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Ohh, I need a new drivers side mirror. Actually....... I like the Muth signal mirrors better. :D Personally for a 99 truck I would not recommend going to a dealership. That transmission will be worth more than your actual vehicle! Myself I was not gonna spend money for a transmission thats 1/3 price of my vehicle.

@ Gresham it's brakes not breaks:D
 
sfboarders said:
bmhair03 said:
sfboarders(John) let me know if you ever need any GM parts or anything .No mark up! :)
Click to expand...

.......That transmission will be worth more than your actual vehicle! Myself I was not gonna spend money for a transmission thats 1/3 price of my vehicle.
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Its all in the mark up and who you know. Just like in this Hobby. :wink:
And your Transmission is 1/3 of your vehicle :)
Good luck all.
 
sid700 said:
I know there are some auto enthusiasts here so here goes...

I need some transmission work and I have no idea of the cost to replace. Anyone have an idea of the range of $ to replace a manual transmission for a 1999 Ford F150, 6 cyl? I bought this truck new and now has 107k miles and the transmission slips at times.

I really would not know if an estimate is reasonable or if I'm being taken to the cleaners. I'm in the East Bast if some one can recommend a good transmission specialist.
Click to expand...

I dont know what city your in but I have always used Redwood City Transmissions. They have built six different transmissions for me over the years.
Cost wise your looking at about $500-$750 for labor, and then you will have to pay for parts and trans fluid. Most transmission rebuilds range around
$1900 - $2800 dollars out the door, the parts cost alot more than the labor. Give these guys a call, they have always been very fair to me, they will test drive it and give you a free estimate.

Redwood City Transmission
412 MacArthur Avenue, Redwood City, CA 94063-3414
(650) 361-1676 ‎
 
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